There’s no more sobbing at the wheel of the car anymore – ‘GUTS’ is a rollercoaster ride with stomach-dropping lows and adrenaline-filled highs. You feel the delirium of a midnight bad decision just as equally as the regretful weight of it the next day. On ‘
ballad of a homeschooled girl’, every inch of social awkwardness is felt with a wince, whilst the revengeful, rocky ‘
get him back!’ has you wishing karmic retribution on a man you’ve never met on Olivia’s behalf. ‘
love is embarrassing’ is pure pop-rock perfection, delivered with a mortified groan, whilst the hazy guitars of ‘pretty isn’t pretty’ implicate you directly in the struggle to keep up she faces. Olivia’s vocals are as powerful and telling of her feelings as ever, but she has hardened on this release – the guitars are louder, her words are wittier, and the tracks are bigger.
